Contact Lens Dry Eyes

Contact Lenses can cause dry eyes because they sit in the tear film on the surface of the eye. The tear film is a finely balanced mixture of liquids which together form a protective, hydrating and optically perfect surface over the eye.

Modern Contact Lenses are made of firm gel type materials which hold water. This material can cause wicking, a drying action where the lens encourages evaporation and dryness. Lenses may also physically rub the eye surface causing disruption to the mucous layer of the tear film.

Opticians look out for contact lens induced dry eye syndrome and may measure your tear "break up time" (BUT). They could offer different types of contact lenses but nowadays the most common solution is to recommend comfort drops / contact lens eye drops to restore the natural tear film and maintain the correct balance of watery and mineral components that a healthy eye needs.

The important thing to consider when using any eye drops while wearing contact lenses is to avoid loading the contact lens material with any preservatives. This is because the preservatives in eye drops are there to maintain a clean / sterile solution in the bottle for at least 28 days of normal use. They are not designed to sit in the contact lens and have prolonged contact with the eye. Such prolonged contact with the eye can cause allergy and excessive red sensitivity.

This leads to the primary requirement for contact lens dry eye treatment... using a preservative free or very gentle preservative system.

The second requirement is an eye drop that is easy to apply to the eyes while wearing lenses and that doesnt cause any blurring on application. This is a safety issue ensuring that your vision is not compromisedif you are driving or operating a careful activity.

Thirdly, the question of value for money for contact lens dry eye treatment. There are several very expensive hyaluronate based treatments which offer preservative filters or single dose preservative free drops. We believe that the treatment should be used as often as you need, work as long as possible and be affordable throughout.

LUMECARE Extra Gentle Dry Eye Tear Drops for Sensitive or Contact Lens Dry Eyes

LUMECARE Preservative Free for CLs & Ultra Sensitive Eyes